A leader of the Myanmar migrant worker network Bright Future was attacked by members of an ultra-royalist group this morning (5 April) while arriving at a protest against Myanmar’s junta leader in front of the UN headquarters in Bangkok.

Songchai Niamhom, leader of an ultra-royalist group, trying to grab Weera Sangthong (black shirt), a leader of the Myanmar migrant worker network Bright Future before other ultra-royalist protesters attacked Weera. (Photo by Ginger Cat)

Bright Future previously called a protest this morning (5 April) against Senior General Min Aung Hliang, leader of Myanmar’s junta, who attended the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit in Bangkok on 3 – 4 April.

However, a number of ultra-royalist groups, such as the People’s Centre to Protect the Monarchy and the King Protection Group, were waiting in front of the UN headquarters ahead of the scheduled time of the protest. At around 10.45, Bright Future leader Weera Sangthong arrived at the scene. Ultra-royalist activist Songchai Niamhom approached Weera and tried to grab him, but Weera pushed his hand away. Songchai and other ultra-royalist protesters then ran after Weera and attacked him.

Police officers then intervened and took Weera away. It is unclear where he has been taken or if he is being detained or charged.

Songchai Niamhom (Photo by Ginger Cat)

At around 11.45, Songchai went to the Nangloeng Police Station to file a complaint against Weera, accusing him of being part of an unlawful secret organization and inciting unrest. He claimed that the Thai Constitution does not allow foreign nationals to stage protests on Thai soil and that doing so is seditious and interfering with Thailand’s internal affairs because protesters were calling on the UN to pressure the Thai government into following their demands. He also claimed that Weera previously joined a campaign for the repeal of the royal defamation law, sedition law, and anti-strike law, or Sections 112, 116, and 117 of the Thai Criminal Code.

Songchai said that he and other members of his group are not against legal migrants, but they are fighting illegal migrants who stage protests and cause unrest or who are involved in money laundering.

Songchai is a leader of the ultra-royalist King Protection Group and known as a serial royal defamation complainant. He once claimed while testifying as a prosecution witness in a royal defamation trial that he has filed complaints against at least 30 people. He tends to file complaints at locations in the south of Thailand. As some of the defendants do not live where the complaints have been filed, they have to travel long distances for police appointments and court hearings.